Delaware County, New York

County Distress Index: Normal · 43.6 | 44,410 people · 39th most distressed in New York
American Default Research

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Delaware County, NY falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 43.6 — 1977th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where poverty rates are high, transfer income dependency is elevated, and household incomes lag well behind state and national medians. Within New York, it ranks 39th of 62 counties. Among its 8 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Delaware County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 71.6 — above the national median.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 71.6
Unemployment Rate 67
Poverty Rate 69
Income vs. State Median 88
Child Poverty Rate 67
Disability Rate 70
Transfer Income Dependency 63
Housing Cost Burden 70.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 73
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 87
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 51
Homeownership Rate 37
Economic Vitality 34.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 4
Rent-to-Income Ratio 59
Business Formation Rate 61
House Price Change (YoY) 67
Consumer Credit Distress 28.5
Debt in Collections 31
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 38
Credit Card Delinquency 41
Uninsured Rate 13
Subprime Credit Population 28
Legal Distress 20.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 20

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed.

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Delaware County
Delaware County, NY 43.6 Normal —
Sullivan County, NY 56.3 Elevated +12.7
Broome County, NY 51.1 Elevated +7.5
Ulster County, NY 48.9 Normal +5.3
Chenango County, NY 45.3 Normal +1.7
Greene County, NY 43.8 Normal +0.2
Wayne County, PA 43.4 Normal -0.2
Schoharie County, NY 40.0 Normal -3.5
Otsego County, NY 36.8 Normal -6.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Delaware County
Paulding County, OH 43.6 Normal -0.0
Isanti County, MN 43.6 Normal -0.0
Wabash County, IL 43.5 Normal -0.1
Ripley County, IN 43.7 Normal +0.1
Chippewa County, MI 43.7 Normal +0.1

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Delaware County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Delaware County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Delaware County.

DELAWARE OPPORTUNITIES, INCORPORATED
Hamden
607-746-1600
Foreclosure PreventionHome Improvement/RehabHomeless/DisplacementPre-Purchase
WESTERN CATSKILLS COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION COUNCIL, INC
Stamford
607-652-2823 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingFair Housing

See all counselors in New York →

Find an Attorney

New York State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

New York State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service 1-800-342-3661

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Delaware County residents at no cost.

Legal Services NYC 1-917-661-4500
Legal Aid Society 1-212-577-3300
Empire Justice Center 1-585-454-4060
Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York 1-800-462-2922
Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York, Inc. (877) 777-6152
Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc. (585) 325-2520
Legal Services of the Hudson Valley (877) 574-8529
Nassau/Suffolk Law Services Committee, Inc. (631) 232-2400
Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc. (716) 847-0650

Self-Help Resources

NYCourts.gov Foreclosure Help Official court system page with information about the foreclosure process, settlement conferences, and available resources. Includes court forms and instructions for pro se litigants.
LawHelp NY — Foreclosure Resources Comprehensive self-help legal information portal for New York residents. Includes foreclosure guides, court form generators, and legal services finder organized by county.

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in New York →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Delaware County, New York?

    Delaware County has a County Distress Index score of 43.6 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,977th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 39th in New York out of 62 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Delaware County?

    The primary driver of distress in Delaware County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 71.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Delaware County compare to neighboring counties?

    Delaware County (43.6) can be compared to its 8 neighboring counties: Sullivan County, NY (56.3); Broome County, NY (51.1); Ulster County, NY (48.9).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses PCA-weighted percentile scoring across five statistically derived factors: Consumer Credit Distress (47.5%), Housing Cost Burden (22.3%), Structural Poverty (13.6%), Economic Vitality (9.2%), and Legal Distress (7.4%). Each county's indicators are ranked against all 3,144 U.S. counties. A score of 50 means the county is at the national median; higher scores indicate greater distress.

  • How often is the CDI updated?

    Annually, aligned to Census American Community Survey and Urban Institute Debt in America release windows — the slowest-moving source inputs. Between annual refreshes, faster-cadence indicators (BLS unemployment, QCEW wages) may drive light mid-year updates if a specific component moves meaningfully. Current data compiled April 14, 2026; next full refresh early 2027.

  • What does the Normal zone mean?

    The CDI divides counties into five zones: Healthy (below 46), Normal (46–55), Elevated (55–71), Serious (71–86), and Crisis (86 and above). Delaware County's score of 43.6 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

  • What data sources power Delaware County's CDI score?

    Delaware County's CDI score draws on Urban Institute Debt in America (Equifax credit-bureau panel), U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-year, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates), Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS, QCEW), U.S. Courts Administrative Office (F-5A bankruptcy filings), and HUD Fair Market Rents. Every number on this page traces to one of these public sources.

  • What is the population of Delaware County?

    Delaware County, New York has a population of approximately 44,410 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.